AZUSA
Community-oriented solutions to increase ridership on the Metro Goldline.
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Generated site audits and journey maps to establish the driving forces that encourage and impede local interaction with people and place.
Benchmarked popular farmers’ markets and civic centers for inspiration on how to build and sustain public interest in local culture and activities.
Developed a two-pronged proposal to increase ridership that enlivens local engagement by improving peripheral safety, representation, and access.
Preserving Local Culture and Values
Residents are proud of their small businesses and city history, but mega corporations taking advantage of cheap, vacant lots are steadily erasing that culture and charm.
Insights & Opporunities
Create incentives for starting a local business and make it easy for them to interface with the public and build rapport with other local entrepreners.
Freedom and Enjoyment
Residents avoid venturing outside after sunset due to local gangs congregating around common areas that lack adaquate lighting and security.
Safety Concerns
Due to sparsely spread points of interest, widespread car culture for local trips leave pedestrians/cyclists feeling unsafe alongside unaware, fast-moving traffic.
Explore New Opportunities
Local academic centers provide an annual influx of college-aged youth that account for a large portion of the local demographic; City officials are seeking new opportunities for its people to thrive.
Ensure an acessible and welcoming environment for locals and curious neighboring communities who ride light rail through Azusa.
Promote complete streets by way of safety improvements along predetermined corridors that link popular destination spots that locals and potential visitors can enjoy.
Incentivize themed groupon events, field trips, and job opportunities along the Gold line.
“Sketchy people lurk at night and randomly hang around town at empty lots”
-APU student
“Many of our students and families have never been to L.A. [The Gold line is] going to open up a whole new world for them.”
- Joseph Rocha, Azusa Mayor- Use MTA-owned land near the station platform to advertise the local culture of pride that exists.
- Rentable kiosks/carts help entrepreneurs who can’t afford to pay land tax, upkeep or electricity.
- Achieve more robust patron engagement through open seating that serves mutliple businesses.
- Implement the same design techniques used at malls and farmer’s markets; threshold entryways.
- Install a section of solar panels above the metro station to power a new public lighting system.
- Legislate traffic calming measures, lane reduction, and bike lane networks based on local input.
- Safety workshops and printed material can drive home the need for a safe multimodal network.
- Elderly and student discount programs and bilingual station signage can make riding rail easier.
- Especially for those new to rail, allow MTA app users to filter search for LA events and activities.
